Here's my New Years resolution... more writing, less excuses. At long last the silence is broken. You are probably wondering what Dave and I have been up to down here in the deep, deep south. It has been a busy couple of months for the USAP. Lots to do and a shorter season to do it in--thanks again, Congress. We have been working hard opening--and now closing--field camps on and around Ross Island, in the Dry Valleys, and in the heart of the continent. There, of course, has been a long honey-do-list for projects here in McMurdo. Minor projects, building renovations, and boxes, always more boxes, are being worked on in between flights to field camps.
 |
| McMurdo From The Air |
Cape Royds is twenty-three miles north of McMurdo Station on the western side of Ross Island and is the location of Shakleton's Hut. The hut was built by Ernest Shakleton and his crew during their 1907-1909 expedition.
Royds has been my favorite destination this season for several reasons. Apart from getting to tour the hut and walk along the open waters of McMurdo Bay, I also had the privilege to spend a few hours observing a large colony of Adelie Penguins. A few hours could have easily turned into several days if I had my way. Their anthropomorphic mannerisms were endearing to me--reminding me more of small, awkward children in tuxedos rather than nesting sea birds.
I watched them commute back and forth from the water's edge to feed--waddling precariously with their little flightless wings held out wide for balance. I saw several male Adelies collecting stones for their nesting mates--a technique used to impress their special lady friends. One Adelie in particular caught my eye as he made his way from one nest to another, slyly stealing rocks while no one was looking. On a few occasions he was caught, and loud protesting squawks would break out while he proceeded to "run" with the rock held high in his beak, dodging angry pecks along the way. It never deterred him from going back for more.
Another great moment was when I witnessed the exchange of an egg between two parents. It started as a greeting--necks held high they "talked" loudly to each other. Next, they hugged--or what I thought looked like a penguin hug. They held their bodies close and weaved their heads up and down. After two or three minutes of noisy preliminaries they stopped talking and hugging and quietly and quickly swapped the egg--the male waddling up close, lifting the feathered folds of his tux to accept the small, shelled promise of life. It was a wonderful sight. The female then proceeded to bolt for the open water--fish and freedom most likely on her mind.
Penguins weren't the only inhabitants of Cape Royds. Plump Weddell Seals with their fuzzy young occupied the ice shelves. Every so often they would roll their slug-like bodies over to warm their backs or bellies.
There were also many skuas lingering in the area--no doubt waiting to capitalize on a free meal. I have seen many skuas around McMurdo Station but never so concentrated as they were at Cape Royds. It was Skua Central.
Dave has had some adventures of his own. He opened a camp in the dry valleys, spent a week in the deep field at CRESIS, and just recently spent the day flying around Wright Valley visiting camps at Bull Pass and Mt Newell. His next big adventure will be closing down a camp on Taylor Glacier--the same camp I set up, and topic of my next blog. Their will be plenty of pictures, I promise.
Happy New Years to every one back home. Have a wonderful and safe holiday. Dave and I are looking forward to another wonderful, adventure filled year.
